Boxing: Recharged Tua getting ready for showdown

By PETER JESSUP

David Tua returned from his Samoan homeland yesterday full of island power, his people having filled him with a nation's psyche to help him psych out heavyweight opponent Lennox Lewis.

The serious stuff begins today. Tua will be back in the gym, with major media work expected later this week as the fight venue is settled.

But he appeared from the flight from Apia yesterday beaming, relaxed, his dress an eye-catching cross-cultural mix of lava lava, backwards cap and dark shades.

He had been deep-sea diving and hunting, among other things, but laughed off further questions about his holiday without any of the "I done wrastled a shark, threw lightning in jail, hospitalised a brick," sort of talk that made Muhammed Ali a favourite.

It is not far away, though. Asked if they needed the right judge for the November title fight to ensure Lewis does not use his height advantage to lie all over Tua, manager Kevin Barry said judges would not come into it.

"They could have Mrs Lewis, Lennox Lewis' sister and brother as the judges - they won't be required," he said.

The pair said they had discussed the fight tactics and how November 12 would pan out hundreds of times, in the gym, over meals, while just hanging out.

"I've seen it happen in my dreams," Barry said.

How does the fight end? "It ends quickly and with a new champion."

Tua said it was "brilliant" that Lewis was writing him off and bragging about how he would win. Lewis was a great champion, Tua said, adding that he was deeply humbled by his success in making it to No 1 contender.

Samoa had really turned things on for him, he said - "gunshots going off when they heard about the deal and a lot of partying going on."

It was "nice to be blessed by the family and the whole country."

He returned to television cameras that demanded attention before his partner and son, but would not let the hype get to him, he said.

"I have a job to do. There isn't anything else for me to do right now but get back to camp and train.

"I've dreamed and walked and talked Lennox Lewis for two years - it's business from now on," he said.

The Tuaman team will be in Auckland for two weeks, and then go for an extensive American promotion tour with Lewis from the second week in September and then get to serious sparring work at Prince Ranch in Las Vegas.

The fight venue deadline is tomorrow.